Fall a good time to review safe driving habits

Published 7:38 am, Friday, September 27, 2013

If the summer driving season is over, perhaps we should turn our thoughts to consideration of fall concerns — you know things like fall rain showers and falling leaves — a bad combination.

First, some basics to review:

Signal lights — did you forget you need to alert other drivers of your turning intentions and, most important, turn them off after you have made your turn.

Just be glad you don't have to use hand signals as drivers used to have to do. This meant rolling down the window and sticking your arm out whether it's raining or snowing

Weather conditions play an important part in our driving procedures. The first snowstorm is always a challenge; snow tires are a part of the equation.

Basically, ordinary courtesy is an important part of safe driving.

One of our pet peeves is people who park in the handicapped spaces with no obvious handicaps. Usually they are younger drivers whose explanation is "I'll just be a minute!" They have to get a coffee or newspaper.

A major complaint concerns fire lanes that you see the in front of all the malls and they are there for a reason — to provide easy access for emergency vehicles.

The award for the most mindless driver goes to the motorist who drives a brand-new car and parks on a diagonal in such a way as to take up two spaces and avoid dings in the door of his new super vehicle.

Those “right-turn on red” signs are there for a purpose and are to be obeyed.

Remember that it all comes down to basic courtesy to your fellow drivers.